Anthony Laskowski’s family sought

The Citizens’ Voice says that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is looking for surviving family members of Army Private Anthony Laskowski. Laskowski was killed near Ajincourt, France on October 10, 1944 is a massive explosion. His remains were lost with those of twelve others in the conflagration, but recent recovery efforts have uncovered some remains, but they need DNA to positively identify Private Laskowski. Efforts have been concentrated in the Nanticoke, Pennsylvania area;

Military officials have told Zaremba that Laskowski’s enlistment paperwork indicates he was from Nanticoke and his mother, Stefania, lived in the Sheatown section of Newport Twp.

News accounts from January 1945 reported on his suspected death and says he was the brother of Mrs. John Gerlak of Dupont and the husband of Evelyn Laskowski, of Center Avenue, Newark, New Jersey.

The military’s missing persons website has Laskowski listed under those unaccounted for from New Jersey.

Military officials provided the historical society with a summary about the incident that likely killed Laskowski.

Members of Laskowski’s unit — the Army’s 35th Infantry Division, 60th Engineers Combat Battalion — were laying anti-tank landmines at night on Oct. 10, 1944 during a period intermittent artillery and mortar fire. Truck after truck was loaded with fused mines.

A big explosion from the leading truck caused the systematic detonation of other trucks and mines on the ground, causing more than 1,500 mines to explode.

According to the article, relatives can contact the Army’s Past Conflict Repatriations Branch at 1-800-892-2490.

Category: We Remember